Bicortical biodegradable screws for rigid fixation of traumatic sagittal split mandibular fracture.

Rigid fixation is the most important issue in the bone healing process. Although internal metallic bone fixation has become increasingly popular over the past 10 years, the presence of several potential problems of metallic bone implants with the popularity of the use of biodegradable plates and screws for craniomaxillofacial fixation have increased in the last 10 years. Rigid fixation of bony fragments was achieved by bicortical applied biodegradable screws in a patient with a sagittal oblique mandibular fracture. Precise bone reduction was maintained with bicortical applied biodegradable screws in the postoperative period. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient retained the intraoperatively achieved perfect occlusion within a 9-month follow-up period. In this particular case, the advantages of use of resorbable fixation systems are combined with the advantages of bicortical screw fixation of split osteotomy without sacrificing the stability of rigid fixation.